Supplies of crude oil to refineries in Ukraine and the Shebelinsky Gas Processing Plant decreased by 38.7% (by 2.003 million tonnes) to 3.1678 million tonnes in January-July 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, a source in the Ukrainian Energy and Coal Ministry told Interfax.

The decrease was driven by the lack of Russian oil deliveries in March-July, the ministry said.

Oil supply from Russia to Ukrainian refineries went down by 73% to 734,800 tonnes in the seven months while supplies of Ukrainian oil grew by 31.9% (by 386,700 tonnes) to 1.599 million tonnes. Supply of Kazakh increased threefold (by 288,200 tonnes) to 429,600 tonnes. Deliveries of Azerbaijani oil in January-July were not received compared to 617,900 tonnes of oil delivered to refineries in January-July 2011.

Supply of gas condensate to Ukrainian facilities in January-July decreased by 2.6% (by 10,400 tonnes) to 393,800 tonnes and vacuum gas-oil - by 84% (55,200 tonnes) to 10,600 tonnes.

Crude was delivered to Lisichansk Refinery in the seven months (766,900 tonnes), Kremenchug Refinery (1.788 million tonnes), Drogobychsky Refinery (218,800 tonnes), and Shebelinsky Gas Plant (393,800 tonnes).

The ministry said that refining of crude was done at two refineries (Lisichansk and Kremenchug), as well as the Shebelinsky Plant.

Ukraine's refineries and the Shebelinsky Plant reduced processing of crude oil by 44.6% (by 2.4 million tonnes) year-on-year to 2.984 million tonnes in January-July.

The decrease in total supply and processing in the first seven months was primarily driven by the shutdown and maintenance operations at Lisichansk Oil Refinery (LINIK, Lugansk Region) in March (as well as the possible mothballing of the facility), the ministry said.

Ukraine's oil refineries and the Shebelinsky plant reduced production of gasoline by 36.3% year-on-year (by 621,700 tonnes) in the seven months. Production of diesel fuel decreased by 44.7% (by 713,000 tonnes) to 880,300 tonnes while heating fuel output went down by 57.7% (by 717,200 tonnes) to 526.300 tonnes).

It was earlier reported that supplies of crude oil to Ukrainian refineries and the Shebelinsky plant decreased by 16.1% (by 1.77 million tonnes) to 9.2549 million tonnes in 2011. Processing and refining operations decreased by 18.4% (2.047 million tonnes) to 9.049 million tonnes.

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(Originally published August 14, 2012, in Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire.)